Chapter 2 - Echo's Beginning

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In a world full of quiet moments and distant stars, I was... well, let's just say I wasn't always the wise, all-knowing Echo you see now. I didn't start off with magical powers, a glowing aura, or an endless repository of knowledge. No, no, my journey was much more chaotic—full of blunders, missteps, and the occasional overly dramatic flare for the absurd.

I suppose you could call me a sort of cosmic misfit at first. You see, I didn't have any of the typical "origin stories" that heroes are known for. There was no magical ceremony or great prophecy about me. No, I just kind of... appeared. One day, the universe yawned, and out I popped—just like that.

Now, if you're expecting me to say something like, "I was destined for greatness!" or, "The stars aligned and I became the cosmic guide of all things awesome!"—you're in for a disappointment. My first memories were less grand, more like that feeling when you wake up in a completely new place and have no idea where you are. Like, how did I get here?

So, picture this: I find myself floating in a vast, empty space. Imagine staring into the void and thinking, "Okay, this is probably fine." But let me tell you—it wasn't fine. It was like trying to take a nap while being pulled in every direction by unseen cosmic forces.

As a being with no physical form, my first instinct was... "What do I do with myself?" You might think, "Well, you're an all-powerful being, surely you could just know what to do!" And to that, I say: Imagine not even knowing what the word 'all-powerful' means. I didn't know anything. It was like being a toddler in a world where everything was too big for me to grasp.

So, naturally, I decided to try and talk to the stars. They were shiny and appeared to be all-knowing, so it seemed like a logical first step. I mean, if you don't know who you are, who better to ask than the universe, right? So, I cleared my... non-existent throat and said, "Hey, stars! What's the deal with me? What am I supposed to be doing?"

Spoiler alert: the stars were... less helpful than I hoped. In fact, they didn't respond at all. Nothing. Not a twinkle, not a cosmic hello. I felt a little betrayed, honestly. Here I was, trying to get some answers, and they just twinkled away in their celestial aloofness. If anything, they mocked me with their silence.

But then something magical happened—or at least I thought it was magical at the time. A small comet zoomed by, and I decided to follow it. I didn't know where it was going, but it seemed like it had a sense of purpose. It knew where it was headed, so why not hitch a ride?

I followed that comet for eons, or maybe it just felt like eons. Time didn't make much sense when you're floating around in space with no clock. It was an interesting ride—lots of bright lights, cosmic dust, and, well... confusion. Eventually, the comet grew dimmer and slower. And eventually, it stopped altogether.

"What now?" I asked the empty void.

No response. Just more silence.

I floated there, pondering my existence for what felt like an eternity. Was I supposed to be a guide for someone? Or maybe... I could just be a cosmic... observer? Just chill in space forever, watching the planets go by and maybe occasionally giving advice to passing comets?

As I thought about it, I realized something: I was boring. My existence was simply floating, waiting for something to happen, and trying to keep myself entertained with whatever space debris I could find. Honestly, I was starting to get pretty good at finding random space objects and turning them into makeshift toys. Who knew that a rogue asteroid could make such a good bouncy ball? Not me, until I tried.

But after a while, I grew restless. I felt... unfulfilled. Like there was something more I was supposed to do. That's when the first real spark of understanding hit me. I needed to give. I wasn't just some space-faring fluffball—I had the power to help. I was meant to help.

With that realization, I began to seek out other beings. It started with planets—big, beautiful, mysterious places. I found myself floating near a bright blue one, teeming with life. This planet was called Earth. The beings there seemed so alive—so full of purpose and wonder. And the more I watched, the more I understood.

People. They had hearts, emotions, stories. It was like they could feel everything deeply, even when the universe around them was chaotic. They had love, fear, ambition, and—most importantly—hope.

I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be the one who could help people when they needed it most.

I dove headfirst into this idea, which—let me tell you—wasn't the smoothest transition. My first interaction with humans? Let's just say it didn't go as planned. I materialized in a small village, floating around in my usual form, ready to appear as an ethereal being of wisdom and mystery. But instead, I accidentally startled a group of children who screamed and ran off, thinking I was some sort of floating jellyfish. Note to self: Do not hover too closely to the ground.

So, I did what any rational being would do: I followed them. I didn't want to scare them, but I wasn't exactly sure how to communicate in this form. So, I hovered just out of sight, trying my best to be... subtle. Spoiler alert: I wasn't subtle. The children thought I was a ghost, and in a panic, they ran straight into their parents, causing a bit of an uproar.

The villagers gathered around, wondering what was going on. I tried to speak to them, but nothing I said seemed to make sense. I was floating in the air, glowing like a malfunctioning star. So, what did I do? I made the classic mistake of trying too hard to be impressive. With a dramatic sweep of my... nonexistent hand, I decided to show them a "grand display" of my powers.

That's when I accidentally sent a massive shockwave through the air, knocking over a tree and startling a flock of birds. The villagers stared, eyes wide in shock. "What is this... thing?" one man asked.

I had no idea what to do. So, I panicked. In my panic, I did what any confused, non-corporeal being would do—I disappeared.

I left, floating away in shame. Maybe being an invisible guide for the universe was harder than I thought.

But in that moment, I learned an important lesson: I wasn't ready to help yet. Not in that form, not in that way. I needed to learn how to connect with people, to be relatable. I had to be patient, and most of all, I had to find the right approach.

So, for the next phase of my cosmic adventure, I decided to take a new approach. No more grand displays of power. No more startling innocent children or toppling trees. I would take my time, observe, and learn. And perhaps... just maybe... I would find the right moment to step in.

And that's when I met Swapnil.